Transportation apparatus



Sept. 4, 1962 H. 1.. FURLONG TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS 4 SheetsSheet 1 Fild Nov. 9. 1959 9% .y. MM? Z ki Wm w M Sept. 4, 1962 H. L. FURLONG 3,052,191

TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 //e/'Jc/7e/ Zea/7 Fur/any INVENTOR.

ATTOR/VL'YJ Sept. 4, 1962 H. 1.. FURLONG TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed. Nov. 9, 1959 He/Jcfie/ [eon Fur/00y INVENTOR.

ATTOR/VEVJ United tates a partnership Filed Nov. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 851,901

7 Claims. (Cl. 104-135) This invention relates to construction apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for use in bridge construction.

In constructing bridges over bays, low-lying areas, marshy land, etc. the bridge is usually supported by a large number of closely spaced piers. The roadway of the bridge is constructed by suspending forming pans between adjacent cap beams of the pier sections. These pans support the concrete roadway while it is cooling.

While the forming pans may be readily placed in position by an overhead crane, they are difiicult to support while being removed. Furthermore a scaffolding is necessary to provide support for workmen.

The patent to Templeton, 2,751,853 suggests a device for providing a movable scaffolding but does not solve the problem of handling forming pans.

It is an object of this invention to provide a vehicle for supporting forming pans during attachment and removal from cap beams of a bridge structure and for providing a platform for the workmen.

Another object is to provide a vehicle as in the above object which is movable along tracks between piers either on tie beams or the ground as well as being adapted for support on a barge for over water construction.

Another object is to provide a vehicle as in the preceding objects which is movable in three dimensions to permit ready adjustment of the position of the forming pans on the cap beams.

Another object is to provide a vehicle as in the preceding objects in which a track is movably supported on tie beams of the piers and in turn supports said vehicle, said track being movable over rollers on the tie beams along the bridge to work on successive sections of the bridge with a relatively short track.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, the specification and the claims.

In the drawings, where an illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown, and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a bridge showing this invention being utilized to remove forming pans after the roadway of the bridge has cooled;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the vehicle of this invention supporting a forming pan while it is being at tached to the cap beams;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the vehicle of this invention and shows in dashed outline movement of the platform of the vehicle laterally of the supporting track and vertically to position forming pans for attachment to the cap beams;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the base of the vehicle illustrating diagrammatically the control system of the vehicle; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a corner of the veice hicle on a greatly enlarged scale illustrating details of construction.

In constructing bridges of the type shown in FIG. 1 it is customary to first erect pairs of piers such as indicated generally at 10 to form a base for the bridge. These pier sections will usually include spaced piers 11 and 12 with a cap beam 13 at the upper end of the piers. Where the piers are of considerable vertical length they are usually joined at an intermediate point by a tie beam 14.

After the pier sections have cured forming pans such as shown at 1511 (FIG. 3 are secured to the cap beams to support the concrete roadway while it is curing. By this invention there is provided a mechanism for use in constructing the roadway.

Where the pier sections include the tie beams 14 a plu rality of supporting roller assemblies 15 are supported on the tie beams. These roller assemblies may take any de sired form which will maintain them upon the tie beams and provide a support of the so-called frictionless type.

A track is provided on the rollers 15 by the rails 16 and 17. Preferably this track will extend along a number of pier sections but where long bridges are being constructed the track will extend over short sections of the bridge. For instance, the track might extend along ten pier sections. As needed for construction purposes the track may be moved along the entire length of the bridge to provide a support for the construction vehicle indicated generally at 18. Of course the track might extend the entire length of the bridge but it will be preferable in most cases to use a short section of track. Where the pier sections do not include tie beams the track may be laid along suitable supports on the ground. Where bridges are being constructed over water the vehicle may be supported on a barge.

The vehicle 18 includes a base indicated generally at 19, a lower platform section indicated generally at 21 and an upper platform section indicated generally at 22. The construction and arrangement permits movement of the platform laterally of the track to position the platform at any desired section of the cap beams. The platform has a width dimension permitting it to freely pass between piers 11 and 17. for movement along the track. The platform additionally provides for movement of its upper section vertically to position and remove forming pans.

The base 19 is generally rectangular in form and includes members 23 and 24 secured together at spaced points by tie members 25 and 26. It is noted that members 25 and 26 are each provided by a pair of confronting channel beams, FIG. 5, which members provide tracks for the platform.

The base is movably mounted on the rails 16 and 17 by a plurality of rollers 27 positioned at the four corners of the base. Suitable positioning rollers 28 (FIG. 5) guide the base in its movement along the track. Hooks 29 on the base underly the upper outer flange of the I beams which provide rails 16 and 17 to prevent any possibility of tilting of the base.

The lower platform section is mounted on the base for lateral movement relative to the track. Preferably the lower section includes T beams 31 with the standard of the T beam extending into the space between the two channel beams which make up the tie members 25 and 26. Spaced wheels 32 are provided along the T beam 31 to support the lower platform for movement laterally 3,c52,1e1 I p a of the track in the channel members 25 and 26 of the base.

The upper section of the platform includes supports 33 on the top of the platform for supporting forming pans 15a. The upper section also includes a workmens platform 34 at opposite ends thereof for supporting workworkmen while the forming pans are being attached to or removed from the cap beams 13.

Provision is made for vertical movement of the upper section of the platform by jacks 35 positioned at the four corners of the platform. Thus by simultaneously extending and retracting these jacks the upper platform section may be raised and lowered.

Movement of the vehicle 18 along the track and lateral and vertical movement of the platform of the vehicle may be provided in any desired manner. Preferably the vehicle is power operated. In FIG. 4 an illustrative power system for the vehicle is illustrated. Power for the entire system is derived from engine 35 which drives the several hydraulic pumps 37, 38 and 39 which in turn drive the several motors and jacks through a control bank 41.

For movement of the vehicle along the rails 16 and 17 power is supplied through the control bank 41 to hydraulic motor 42 which drives one pair of wheels 27 through a suitable power transmission schematically illustrated at 43. By reversing the operation of motor 42, forward and reverse movement of the vehicle is provided for.

Lateral movement of the platform relative to the track is provided by operation of fluid motor 44 through the control bank 41. This motor controls rotation of a shaft 45 having at opposite ends pulleys 46. Chains 47 are wrapped around the pulleys 46 and have their free ends secured to the lower platform section at laterally spaced points as indicated at 48 (FIG. By reversing the rotary movement of shaft 45 lateral reciprocation of the platform is provided for.

The several jacks 35 for raising and lowering the up per platform section are preferably hydraulic jacks controlled from the bank 41. For levelling purposes it is preferred that these jacks be separately controllable in the control bank 41. As will be understood by those skilled in the art there may be a single control for these jacks with an individual control for each jack overriding the single control to permit levelling.

In operation, the roller assemblies 15 are positioned on tie beams 14. Rails 16 and 17 are placed on the roller assemblies and the vehicle mounted on the rails. The forming pans 15 may be positioned on the upper platform of the vehicle in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. Thereafter the vehicle and upper platform are manipulated to position the forming pans at the top of the cap beams and workmen working from the workmens platforms 34 secure the forming pans to the cap beams. After the pans are in place the upper platform may be lowered and centered over the rails 16 and 17. The vehicle will then pass between the piers 11 and 12 to a new construction position. After the roadway has been poured and sufliciently cured the vehicle is returned and the upper section of the vehicle placed in a supporting position below a group of forming pans. Workmen on platforms 34 may then release the forming pans from the cap beams for support on the vehicle. The upper section of the vehicle may then be lowered and the forming pans removed therefrom.

As a section of the bridge is completed a cable (not shown) is secured to the track and the track is pulled along supporting rollers 15 to a new section of the bridge.

The vehicle and its component parts may be suitably reinforced in any desired manner as illustrated in the drawings. The several components of the vehicle may take any desired form which will provide for movement of the vehicle along the track and lateral and vertical movement of at least theupper section of the platform. This arrangement permits a narrow construction vehicle d to be utilized in handling forming pans of a substantially Wider bridge.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Vv'hat is claimed is:

l. A bridge construction apparatus comprising, a plurality of spaced double piers for supporting the roadway of a bridge, a cap beam spanning each pair of double piers, a tie-beam between each pair of double piers and below the cap beam, rollers mounted on said tie beams, a plurality of rails movably supported on said rollers and providing a track for a construction vehicle, said vehicle comprising, a base supported on wheels which run on said track to provide for movement of the vehicle along the track, said base having a plurality of wheels arranged in parallel planes which extend transverse to said track, a platform including an upper section and a lower section, rails carried by said lower section and supported on said transverse wheels to provide for movement of the platform laterally of the track to a position in part beyond said base, means for moving the vehicle along the track and the platform laterally of the track, means preventing said platform from tilting when positioned laterally of the track, and a plurality of jack means mounted on the lower platform section and supporting the upper platform section and providing for selective raising and lowering of the upper platform section to and from the level of the cap beam to support forming pans for attachment to and release from the cap beams.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jacks are hydraulic and motor means is provided for supplying hydraulic fluid for operating the jacks.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jacks are hydraulic and motor means is provided for supplying hydraulic fluid for operating the jacks, and wherein the means for moving the vehicle and platform are operated by hydraulic fluid from said motor means.

4. A bridge construction apparatus comprising, a plurality of spaced double piers for supporting the roadway of a bridge, a cap beam spanning each pair of double piers, support means on each pair of double piers a plurality of rails supported on said support means and extending between said piers below the cap beam and providing a track for a construction vehicle, said vehicle comprising, a base supported on wheels which run on said track to provide for movement of the vehicle along the track, said base having a plurality of wheels arranged in parallel planes which extend transversely to said track, a platform including an upper section and a lower section, rails carried by said lower section and supported on said transverse wheels to provide for movement of the platform laterally of the track to a position in part beyond said base, means for moving the vehicle along the track and the platform laterally of the track, means preventing said platform from tilting when positioned laterally of the track, and jack means mounted on the lower platform section and supporting the upper platform section and providing for selective raising and lowering of the upper platform section to and from the level of the cap beam to support forming pans for attachment to and release from the cap beams.

5. A construction vehicle comprising, a base adapted be positioned between spaced double piers of a bridge, said base having a plurality of wheels arranged in parallel planes which extend transverse to the centerline of said plurality of double piers, a platform including an upper section and a lower section, rails carried by said lower section and supported on said wheels to provide for movement of the platform laterally of the centerline of said spaced double piers and to a position in in part beyond said base, means for moving the platform along said Wheels, means preventing said platform from tilting when positioned laterally of the base with the platform in part beyond said base, and jack means mounted on the lower platform section and supporting the upper platform section and providing for selective raising and lowering of the upper platform section to and from the level of the top of said piers.

6. The vehicle in claim 5 wherein the jacks are 11ydraulic and motor means is provided for supplying hydraulic fluid for operating the jacks.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the jacks are hydraulie and motor means is provided for supplying hydraulic fluid for operating the jacks, and wherein the means for moving the platform is operated by hydraulic fluid from said motor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 930,354 Covell Aug. 10, 1909 1,002,797 Appleton et at Sept. 5, 1911 10 2,327,446 Ortgies Aug. 24, 1943 2,751,853 Templeton June 26, 1956 

